A wolf warning has been issued in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park following a pair of bold wolves approaching campers on Tunnel Mountain. The warning issued June 1 is for all areas in the park, which includes campgrounds and day use areas.
A wolf warning has been issued in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park following a pair of bold wolves approaching campers on Tunnel Mountain.
The warning issued June 1 is for all areas in the park, which includes campgrounds and day use areas.
A message Parks Canada is repeating to its visitors and residents is to keep all food and garbage secured and to never feed wildlife in the national park.
“Our concern is habituated wildlife,” said Bill Hunt, resource conservation manager. “These wolves are showing food conditioned behaviour where they observe humans as a food source and can get a food reward.”
On Tuesday evening (May 31) around 10 p.m., the two wolves approached campers at one of the sites on Tunnel Mountain.
The wolves made no physical contact with the campers, however, the pair consistently approached the site despite efforts to scare them off. The pressing wolves made the campers retreat to their vehicle.
“One wolf came in and took a lid off of a cooler, and made off with a loaf of bread,” said Hunt. “It’ s not a good situation with us when wolves are being that bold in a human use area.”
Warning signs have been posted around the Tunnel Mountain area, as well as online.
Hunt says he’ s not aware of any carcasses in the Tunnel Mountain area that might have drawn the wolves into the campsite.
The two wolves are part of the five-member Bow Valley wolf pack. Two males from the pack have been fitted with collars.
“Right now, teams are out to catch and collar the remaining three wolves,” said Hunt.
Hunt said should the remaining three wolves be captured, the team will assess what kind of physical shape the wolves are in, which might result in the decision to collar and release the animals or have them destroyed.
Parks advises that if you have a wolf encounter to be loud, act aggressively and discourage it approaching you. Keep an eye on pets and small children and carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Please report all wolf, bear and cougar sightings to Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470.
